Well, since "capitalism" and criminal kingpins have been around for thousands of years, these are rather gauzy links to "our world." 

crisotunity writes: "Could you list your 5 most sucky Greek tragedies? You can entertain us all, while learning the true meaning of 'hubris'."

Yes, you could argue that Breaking Bad had a fine "completeness" (although the excesses of season 4 were hardly economical), but that's just a consequence of the fact that it is dedicated entirely to articulating its arc.  As I said, the top and bottom of that show is essentially its finely wrought plot.

I agree with what you say about didactic drama.  But hopefully "having something to tell us" is not limited to ideas made explicit in the screenplay.  "The Wire," for instance, told us something about our historical world.  "Breaking Bad," on the other hand, doesn't really care about our historical moment and place. …

I loved watching this show.  But c'mon now. It was not the profound masterpiece that people have convinced themselves it was.

That was Frank's companion, no?

My response to your post was awed admiration.

* grins smugly at your impressive disdain *

I know Maron is a genius interviewer.  The way he gets people to talk is fascinating.  He's a charming guy, and it's fun to listen to him talk about himself.

Can anyone make a convincing argument that "Enlightened" is *not* horribly written?

Touche!  Unfortunately, the line after that is  "… no you can't take that away from me."

um, well I'm talking about one of the premises of season two, which is that the Dern character has delusions of corporate persecution and is attempting to blow the whistle on corporate crimes that are only in her head…

No kidding?  This hagiography of the CIA somehow convinced you that summary execution was the only way?  Incroyable!

No kidding?  This hagiography of the CIA somehow convinced you that summary execution was the only way?  Incroyable!

I see the second best film of the year is one that invents "leads" gleaned from torture, despite the CIA's and pentagon's admission that no such leads were produced in this way.  Couple that with the gag-inducing hagiography of the brave and always good-intentioned CIA, and you certainly do have a film utterly free of…

I see the second best film of the year is one that invents "leads" gleaned from torture, despite the CIA's and pentagon's admission that no such leads were produced in this way.  Couple that with the gag-inducing hagiography of the brave and always good-intentioned CIA, and you certainly do have a film utterly free of…

How is it that none of the hundreds of comments here have pointed out that the reviewer is plainly, bewilderingly wrong that the film does not depict torture as necessary to finding bin Laden?  The thread leading to info on bin Laden's courier is quite explicitly depicted — and in contradiction to all historical fact…

How is it that none of the hundreds of comments here have pointed out that the reviewer is plainly, bewilderingly wrong that the film does not depict torture as necessary to finding bin Laden?  The thread leading to info on bin Laden's courier is quite explicitly depicted — and in contradiction to all historical fact…

Dude, I appreciate your thoughtful exegesis.  But.  Your life will be so much more fulfilled once you understand that Fight Club is the ultimate in bourgeois, consumerist masturbation.  Its pathetic self-delusions are of comic-book-store-guy proportions.

Dude, I appreciate your thoughtful exegesis.  But.  Your life will be so much more fulfilled once you understand that Fight Club is the ultimate in bourgeois, consumerist masturbation.  Its pathetic self-delusions are of comic-book-store-guy proportions.